Pamplona

The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando Gathers Together to Members and Friends of Patrimonio para Jóvenes.

With the 300th anniversary of the birth of Ventura Rodríguez, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, organized an exposition about the architect. This was the perfect occasion to meet up with our members from Madrid and its surroundings. And a perfect occasion to invite them to see Ventura Rodriguez´s work in Navarre. Since not all of us could come, we organized a raffle to see who was coming. The exhibition was magnificent. You´re still on time to make a visit, since it´ll stay until april 8th. If you want more information, click here.

On this picture you can see some of the youngest members. And it was Maria, the littlest of all, the third from the left, who won the contest to come to visit us in Navarre. She did it a few days later, accompanied by her mother, Nuria.

Discover, Relate, Learn, Enjoy

The exhibition about Ventura Rodríguez had a Little “but”: it could be too complex and hard to be appreciated or enjoyed by the youngest observers. With Ana, our guide, we did what we could in order to make it more approachable, talking about something very well known: The Fountain of the goddess Cibeles.

Designed by Ventura Rodríguez (although it was built by two othe sculptors) is an emblematic fountain, a “must” stop in Madrid. Either you are a soccer fan or not, everybody relates this fountain with Real Madrid. This helped us as a hook to demonstrate the importance of Ventura Rodríguez, his projects and works.

If you want tocheck out more about the category, complexity and setting of this exhibition in Madrid, you can watch this video.

By the way, it would be an authentic delight to have an encounter of the Patrimonio para Jóvenes “troupe” with the staff in charge of the setting of this exhibition and other not-less-important ones: Arquitectos Frade

Along the explanations we started to familiarize ourselves with Ventura Rodríguez and his work. Little by little, the curiosity about his work in Navarra started to flourish.

By the end of our visit, we made the raffle. We had a little bag with blank pieces of paper, except for one that had PAMPLONA written on it. The one who took this piece of paper would come to Navarra to see the façade of the Cathedral, the Bell Tower, the Noain aqueduct, and of course, to enjoy the city.

And the Winner is…Maria!

The youngest member of our group was the fortunate one. As an anecdote, she took the papero ut of the bag without noticing she was the winner. For some reason, she thought that each of us was taking a piece of paper with the name of a different city, so she didn´t say anything. It was her mother who noticed. As you can imagine, Little Maria had a hard time being the center of attention, clapped and cheered by all of us. You could say this is a very personal and very intense way to discover Ventura Rodríguez .

It was a February afternoon, intense, kind, full of encounters, introductions, memories and all these details that come with the effort of making a visit. We said good bye and went to our respective Metro stations, buses and plans. However, all of us left with the feeling of being part of something bigger that gathers people together no matter their age, origins or education. It was the interest in appreciating and discovering our culture.

Two Visits in Pamplona: First: The Cathedral and its Tower

In Patrimonio para Jóvenes we don´t like rushing nor overwhelming people with contents and information. We prefer little drops, generate curiosity step by step. And overall, we want people to have a great time with us. Let´s not forget that we are addressing to the most complex public: The one who generally is not interested in this kind of activities. So we have to awaken their interest, our biggest challenge. And this can only be done with care, preparing every visit with an artisan’s technique.

A VIP Guide…

There´s no better way of showing the love that we put into our work tan visiting the Cathedral of Pamplona (relating the visit to Ventura Rodríguez) with Verónica Quintanilla Crespo, an architect specialized in restoring cultural heritage. You can see her on the picture above.

All the visitors were amazed and said that they were discovering a new perspective of the Cathedral. They´d never seen nor thought about many of the details Verónica talked about.

While Verónica explained, Clara Frago captured with her camera those instants of communion and harmony of diverse environments. Surroundings where we discover new projects and designs for the façade of the Cathedral at the same time we re-imagine how the primitive Romanic façade would have looked like.

It was very interesting to listen to Verónica and how she approached us to Ventura Rodríguez ant to the Cathedral with the delicacy of someone who has had to listen, discover, observe and interpret to a great architect in order to intervene on his work. Take it back to its original glow with humility and generosity.

“An architect that restores cultural heritage has to be humble”. I couldn´t resist falling for this comment. In a restoration project, the personal mark is not important; the main objective is to give back the starring light to the geniuses who created that piece of art. It was an amazing morning, another one on this February centered on Ventura Rodríguez. All this was occurring at the same time we were preparing Clara´s exhibition, that you´ll be able to visit in the main headquarters of La Caixa in Pamplona until April 15th.

It was such a pity that all of us started moving around, so just half of the group is shown in this

The Visit to the Aqueduct of Noain

A week later we got together again to have a walk around Noain and enjoy the views of its aqueduct. This time, our photographer was Borja Centenera Crespo.

A lot of us have seen the aqueduct many times while being on the highway or by train. None of us had ever gone below its arches, and all of us agreed that the view is completely different. From below, you can appreciate the whole magnitude of this work. We talked about the way water used to be brought to Pamplona and reflected about the problem of water supplying and how we take for granted daily activities like opening the water tap, take a shower, or doing the laundry.

And of course, we thought about all the work that building an aqueduct demands.

The aqueduct of Noain also helped us remember the fountains of the city of Pamplona that received wáter thanks to the aqueduct. Since it was impossible to visit them during the day, I took pictures of them a few days earlier and then sent them through Whatsapp.

We talked about math and physics, the awareness of land, and overall, we had a blast. As always, Borja took fantastic pictures of our day.

A February that will be saved in our memories, a month dedicated to the architect Ventura Rodríguez. This poster, designed by our wonderful Clara, is the one she created to announce

Every time I write about our activities, I get the exact same feeling. How long and slow it feels when preparing the activities, and how fast it occurs later, how easy it becomes a souvenir. Some of our members leave us, most of them to prepare the MIR exam after their Medicine degree. But new generations are to come, so Patrimonio para Jóvenes keeps on working.

I say goodbye for now with this pic of the newly arrived members and a video about Ventura Rodríguez that´s worth watching over here.

Because of Another Visit

In January 2017, we had a walk along the First Expansion of Pamplona. While preparing that activity, I read, observed and looked with a different view to this area of the town that can be misunderstood. Building created in the end of the XIXth century and the beginning of the XXth century get mixed, confused and almost hidden among taller, more modern and more impressive buildings. I found out details that I’d never seen before. And during the visit, all the people made the exact same comment: I had never seen this before. This topic awakened so much interest that it was a must to pull its thread..

Photography as a Way

We started everything to prepare a photography exposition that fulfilled two of the main goals of Patrimonio para Jóvenes. On one side, to spread awareness about art and cultural heritage. On the other hand, to promote the work of young professionals. On November we started the search of the appropriate place. It had to be big, easy to be seen by pedestrians and inside or at least, close enough to the First Expansion.

We proposed the setting of this exposition to many entities. In the end, the idea worked for La Caixa, so we started working

Working During Christmas

Since the first weeks of December, Clara Frago re-visited this houses that she had saved in pictures back in the day. Now, more calmly, by her own and focused only on her camera lens, trying to catch the spirit, almost magic of this buildings and its entrances. We´d like to thank to the Chamber of Commerce, the Residence of the Repairing Mothers and the Joaquín Maya School of Music for all the facilities they gave us for taking pictures of its interiors, ot from their Windows and terraces to take pictures from the heights.

At the beginning of January, Clara Frago presented her work in La Caixa. As it was expected, the exposition absolutely charmed the public. Now you still have a chance to delight yourself with her photographs from March 1st to April 15th in the Carlos III avenue in Pamplona.

The Expositive Design of Juan Roldán Marzo

What story do we want to tell with these pictures and how can we do it? This exposition is an invite for you to observe, to discover hidden details and rejoice among them. This feeling of joy and relaxation can´t be achieved with stridency. The exhibition space of La Caixa does not admit an exhibit in color. Therefore, the pictures are displayed in black and wihite, also like a reminiscence of past times.

Another issue: Pictures can´t disturb workers and clients. The solution? Have them hanged in panels by a transparent thread that gives the effect of having the pictures floating in the air.

An additional element for the whimsical environment we want to create. This way, the observer will see doors that invite them to go in, stairs asking to be climbed, windows that work as threshold to a world of portals, peepholes and even more windows.

How was this arrangement decided? Through some trails in an A5 printing of the same images that would be presented in a bigger format.

A GREAT JOB WITH A GREAT TEAM

For many months, Juan Roldán and Clara Frago have worked throughly, thoughtfully paying attention to every little detail. For Patrimonio para Jóvenes it is such a delight to set up this exhibition. We give our sincere thanks to La Caixa for trusting in our association, Juan and Clara. We hope this becomes an opportunity for all the clients and people go pass by this area to be amazed by the details of the precious architectonic heritage of the First Expansion of Pamplona, this shy urban development before the demolition of the walls. Knowing about it, is the best way to preserve it.

What could Castilla La Mancha and Navarra have in common? Is it possible for some kids from Pamplona to have any interest on visiting a small location in the Alcarria region, more specifically, the town of Pastrana? And why would visitors from Pastrana would come to Pamplona in such a weird season as the middle of April?

Let’s organize all these ideas first. The common link between Navarra and Pastrana is a pipe organ. Yes, as you read, since the pipe organ from Pastrana was built by Domingo de Mendoza, a Navarre from the School of Lerín.

More curious facts: Both the parish church of San Román de Arellano, in Navarra, and the Cathedral of Sigüenza, share many decorative coincidences. I invite you to take a look to the parish of Arellano here

Arellano

What Unites Us Today

However, the biggest link between Pamplona and Pastrana, and the reason of this strong relationship, is pure affection. This friendship was born through an exchange between Patrimonio para Jóvenes and the Association of Ladies and Gentlemen from Pastrana. They are the soul of the annual ducal festival of this town, as well as the stars of the theatrical visits that are held on the first Saturday of every month

Summary of our Shared History

One day while exploring different social networks, I discovered the account of the Tapestry Museum of Pastrana. It caught my attention immediately, so I got in touch with them as soon as I could. What a lovely surprise it was to find out they are an amazing group of people. That kind of people that motivates you to visit their hometown. Besides, I had already heard about Pastrana, because of the story of Ana de Mendoza y de la Cerda, Princess of Eboli and Duchess of Pastrana.

As I put the Tapestry Museum on my pending list, I started to run the project about fashion in the altarpiece of San Julián de Ororbia in Navarre, with the help of Consuelo Sanz de Bremond Lloret. And well, I found out that Consuelo happens to be very close to Celia Alegre, one of the participants of the ducal festival in Pastrana.

9 AM and 22º C:

Summer. August. Madrid. It’s 9 in the morning and the day promises to be burning hot. However, this is the only day I have to visit Pastrana, so I don’t think about it twice. The fresh air running through the ducal palace, the parish church and the Tapestry museum soothe the heat. And so does the great treatment I am receiving.

It is an absolutely interesting place. To make the Navarre boys and girls get there is almost impossible. So I write down on my notes “Pastrana is extraordinary. But impossible to include on my list of places to visit”.

Impossible?

As I saw how the chances to organize a visit or an activity vanished, I wrote to Celia in order to propose a collaborative post. The kids from Pastrana had to send me their pictures, write and tell about what they do during the ducal festival and the theatrical visits. They did it. And suddenly, it happened: Pastrana. You can remember this activity here:

So Celia Alegre had an idea…

In order to discuss some issues about that post, I met Celia in Madrid on December, having a cup of coffee near Moncloa on a Christmas´ Eve morning. That’s when I told her that we won’t make it to Pastrana due to distance, a lack of direct transportation and additional costs like hotels and such. In conclusion, because of time, money and interests, a visit to Pastrana clashed against the main characteristics of Patrimonio para Jóvenes. We had to understand that both the kids from Pastrana as well as from Pamplona aren’t retired seniors willing to spend a lot of money and time in cultural activities. But Celia didn’t give up, and used her wildcard: an exchange

The Exchange

This meant we had to set a timetable and, in the case of having underage visitors, we had to let their parents meet each other, for them to coordinate and approve the trip of their children. It was January and everything was already going pretty well. The first weekend of April, the people from Pamplona, with some friends from Cuenca and Víctor Choza from Madrid as a photographer, would go to Pastrana, and the next weekend the pastraneros would come to visit us.

Speechless

The coordination to pick up the people from Atocha, and Víctor from the university (poor Víctor had just finished a final exam) was excellent. As soon as they arrived to Pastrana they tried out the costumes. By the next day, our people were pastraneros who were right in the middle of the guided visits as part of the staff, involved in their presentation, being part of the place.

It was Patrimonio para Jóvenes at its purest. Add to the experience the Alcarrian food, the visit to the Tapestry Museum and the Carmelite Convent as well as the long walks and longer talks with their hosts.

Getting Involved

That might be our key to success. We open our houses, spend our time and give our biggest efforts in order to offer a unique experience to the participants. We get involved so all the art and cultural heritage they discover remain in their memory as an exceptional experience, rather than vanish as useless facts.

In order to turn this dream into reality, we need tons of people. Generous people willing to help others without expecting some kind of reward, people with true love for their heritage, their history and their homeland. Just like the guys from Pastrana.

Pastrana is not only not imposible to reach, but it has become one of the best experiences of our association. Does anybody remember the “Adventure in the Mudéjar of Aragón”? Their protagonists will never forget it, and that will happen to the visitors of Pastrana.

Now I would love to tell you about the visit of the pastraneros to Pamplona… But that will be saved for the next post.

Some years ago, the Chicago Tribune published an article about the city of Pamplona. The article went beyond the traditional topic of Sanfermines and talked about another interesting places around the city. If you want to read the complete article, please click here

Having this article on mind, I am writing about the last morning we went for a walk around Pamplona. We may have not seen all the city since it took us just one hour, and we visited just some streets, but it was totally worth it, so follow us and take a look of what we saw.

We visited some buildings of an area of Pamplona called I Ensanche. The word Ensanche could be more or less translated to “expansion”, therefore, it was the first expansion of the city. Now you may ask yourself why are we talking about “expansion”? Well, because of the walls surrounding the city. Until the last century, Pamplona was a city completely surrounded by a stone fortress. Nowadays despite it still has some remaining walls, the city has grown out of those edges. So, back then, the city was completely different from what we can appreciate today.

The first expansion was the first area where wealthy people could build elegant houses made by the most important architects of the end of XIXth Century and beginnings of the XXth Century. A public building, the palace of justice, was built at the same time as well.

Regrettably, some of those houses were demolished and today we can´t enjoy watching all of them. However, around this area there are still some amazing examples of the detail-oriented and versatile styles that define the architecture of that time. For example, it’s impossible to avoid looking at the beautiful buildings by Manuel Martinez Urbago in Modernist style. The team was astonished by the beauty of the gantries and overwhelmed by the delicacy of every little piece that decorated the room. The details and harmony in those spaces suddenly let us delightfully experience an atmosphere from other times.

We also enjoyed watching at the only house of Pamplona that is built in neo-mudéjar style. In the case of this particular building, materials are essential, since bricks are not only for used construction, but also for the decoration of its facade. With contrasting colors, geometric shapes and a harmonic combination of the bricks with the rest of materials, this is a beautiful creation that effortlessly stands out from the surrounding houses.

In the end, we spent such a nice morning contemplating all the ornamental details, admiring the sinuous beauty of each façade, balcony or hall, reconstructing the ancient majesty of those houses in our minds, and chatting about the historicist and eclectic style in Spain, that the time passed so fast we didn´t notice.

Each of us also learnt a little more about the city of Pamplona. We realized that knowing well a city is not as easy as it sounds. It does not matter if it is a small city or even if we have been living there for several years, there are always secret spots or hidden treasures that need just a little of attention to be discovered and admired.

This morning walk was totally worth it. It was a morning for learning to look at the beauty of a city. Cities do not need to be enormous nor monumental to please our sight with lovely spaces. Each of them has a past that defines it, a need for beauty that decorates it and a will to become a nice place to live in that shapes it. With this walk along the secret beauties of Pamplona, we learned that each city possesses a charm, a history and a heritage that must be enjoyed, preserved and given to the next generations for their own delight.

A cold winter Saturday evening, a charming bookshop, a historical novel and its writer in our informal conference dinner, could you imagine anything better?

Luis Zueco is the author of historical novels and the person in charge of the Castle of Grisel, a lovely hotel, (previously a castle) in the region of Aragon, right in an area full of heritage and well worth visiting.

He came to join us for a talk about his last novel “El Castillo” (The Castle), the story of the construction of the Castle of Loarre, one of the most beautiful castles you can visit in Spain

It is amazing, superb, incredible to find something like this built almost one thousand years ago. The novel bring us the opportunity to think and reflect about the people who lived the adventure of the construction, the dangers, hopes, difficulties, fears and so on. We listened to Luis Zueco talk about castles in Spain, the castle in the novel and the challenge of finding the characters; especially because it is necessary consider that they have to think and behave as people one thousand years ago. Quite a complicated task!

Anyway, we were enchanted with the tale as well as with the castle.

We came to the Castle of Loarre with some of the Patrimonio Para Jovenes team some time ago, but we are going to come back again when good weather and longer days arrive.

Thanks a lot to Luis Zueco who wanted to come to Pamplona when I asked him about it, and thanks to Dani Rosino, the owner of the Bookshop“Walden” a place built with the concept of beauty, simplicity; deep, and peaceful as a forest. Check out its web and visit the shop if you are coming to Pamplona. It is located in the city center, not far away from the famous “Plaza de Toros”.

And… by the way, El Castillo is not translated to English but in any case if you come to Spain, don’t forget to visit the Castle of Loarre, a Castle in Aragon, but with a history bound toNavarra.